Waste production profiling using socioeconomic factors: A case study of Lisbon

Dissertation presented as the partial requirement for obtaining a Master's degree in Information Management, specialization in Knowledge Management and Business IntelligenceUrban Waste Management is a public service provided by municipalities, managed by both private and public companies. Ensuring good waste management in municipalities provides the quality of waste collection service, meeting environmental targets and offering clean, healthy, and safe cities. Municipal waste management is already a topic of concern in recent decades in Portugal. From the literature analysed, there is ample evidence about the legislation and policies implemented to achieve better waste management and increase recycling to promote the country's sustainable development. This study aims to classify the socioeconomic profile of producers of various types of waste in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. That is, to find the characteristics of the different groups of people who produce waste, and the variables that can better describe these groups, to understand whether their social and economic characteristics impact the amount of waste produced. The methodology to be implemented to develop the study is the application of clustering techniques to identify the characteristics of the groups of people who produce waste in the city of Lisbon. It is expected to use clustering techniques, such as k-means and Dynamic Time Warping. Was concluded that in mixed waste, people over 65 years of age, with a low level of education and whose income is also low, are the ones who produce the most waste, followed by the youngest between 0 and 24 years of age, with a high level of education and with better incomes. As for recycled waste, was concluded, in general, that residents with a higher level of education and better incomes produce more recycled waste, unlike those with less education level and lower incomes that produce less